KJP releases manifesto, promises sops to all to gain power
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, Apr 13: One wonders if former chief minister and Lingayat strongman B S Yeddyurappa will succeed in leading his regional oufit KJP to power in Karnataka’s assembly polls on May 5.

However, if elections are won on the basis of promises made in election manifesto, Yeddyurappa’s KJP should win hands down as the party has taken care to woo almost all important sections from  farmers, weavers, fishermen, women, middle classes, all categories of aged persons, Muslims and Christians with attractive promises.

It is, however, a different matter that Yeddyurappa’s KJP will have to first win and come to power on its own before it gets down to implementing its electoral promises.

But, nobody can fault the KJP for not getting its agenda right or for setting sights on the goal-post for victory.

The KJP manifesto, which was released by Yeddyurappa in the presence of party leaders Shobha Karandlaje, V Dhananjaya Kumar, Kannada writer Chandrashekar Patil and senior leader K H Srinivas, promises to waive all crop loans of farmers upto Rs 1 lakh and offer monthly pension of Rs 500 for all farmers aged 65 years, if it voted to power in ensuing elections to the State legislative Assembly.

The KJP, which was formally launched in Haveri on December 9, 2012, also promised free electricity to irrigation pump-sets of all farmers and completion of all irrigation projects in the next five years in the State.
 

Rs 2000 Cr for Muslims, Rs 250 Cr  for Christians
 
Extension of Bhyagalaxmi and Sandhya Suraksha schemes, which earned popularity to Yeddyurappa as chief minister in the BJP rule, to all middle class families.

Loans advanced by cooperatives up to Rs 1 lakh to farmers, weavers and fishermen would be waived if the party came to power.

Another major promise of the KJP was establishment of a women cooperative bank and setting aside Rs 2000 crore to the bank. It also promised granting of loans at the rate of 1 per cent interest rate for women.

Besides providing potable drinking water and building toilets in allnvillages, the KJP promised to generation of 5000 MW to remove power shortage in agricultural sector.

Yeddyurappa said Niranthara Jyothi scheme will be implemented throughout the state.

Stating that the party was committed for implementing Dr Nanjundappa report on redressal of regional imbalances within next five years, Yeddyurappa said funds would be released to all backward taluks to tackle infrastructure deficit.

The party’s other major promises are providing capital investment of Rs 1 lakh to each of 1.75 lakh self help women groups for providing necessary training, working shed to produce different varieties of useful products; setting aside of Rs 500 crore for development of SC/ST, Rs 2000 crore for development of backward classes, Rs 2000 crore for the development of Muslim community and Rs 250 crore will be reserved for development of Christian community.
 

Fourth List of 31 Candidates Released
 
With the release of 31 candidates in fourth list, KJP has fielded candidates in 173 constituencies in the ensuing assembly elections.

In a tactical move to win the support of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Yeddyurappa has decided to extend support to three of its candidates– K S Puttanaiah (Melukote), Kodihalli Chandrashekar (Hassan) and Nanjundegowda (Srirangapatna).

Releasing a list of 31 candidates, Yeddyurappa said party has decided to contest all 224 constituencies.

It would soon release final list, the former chief minister said.

In the fourth list, KJP has given ticket to former MLA Umapathi in Chitradurga constituency by replacing Sunita Mallikarjuna.